Los Angeles officials meet with United States Olympic Committee over 2024 bid for Summer Olympics

Taking the first step toward trying to host the 2024 Olympic Games, Mayor Eric Garcetti and officials from three other cities held their first briefing in Colorado Springs with U.S. Olympic Committee officials on Friday to review what will be involved in the bidding process.

Garcetti and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh headed their city delegations at the weekend meeting, where tours of USOC facilities were provided as well as sessions to discuss the finances involved in offering a bid and procedures that will need to be followed.

“I’d like to thank each city’s civic and public leadership for the commitment they have shown to our process thus far,” USOC Chairman Larry Probst said. “Our discussions this week have created a foundation for something that could be truly unique.

“There is a great deal of work left to do before we can make a decision, but I’m more optimistic than ever that a U.S. bid for the 2024 Games can be successful.”

In addition to Los Angeles and Boston, the cities of San Francisco and Washington, D.C., were invited to the event.

Also with Garcetti were sports marketer Casey Wasserman, who is expected to head the Los Angeles Olympic effort, along with staff member Doane Liu and attorney Jon Oram.

USOC officials said the briefing was designed to provide technical elements required to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee is holding an extraordinary session in December to discuss changes in how cities bid for the Games and how the final city is selected.

The United States last hosted an Olympics in 1996 in Atlanta. Los Angeles has served as host city twice, in 1932 and 1984.